‡C Era of Joshua `Kings and Prophets of Israel

Following settlement in the land of Canaan

God's redemption plans follow on from Moses' Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), into the book of Joshua, right through to the prophetic book of Malachi.

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua Son of Nun, Moses' assistantc..

1406 BCE ~ Having lived a half-nomadic life for 40 years, the Israelites, led by Joshua, enters into Canaan, conquers town after town and settles into a life centred on farming.

The era of Judges: 450 years after conquering Canaan, the Israelites enter into a period of history under the rule of 12 Judges, starting with Othniel.
Othniel ¨ Ehud ¨ Shamgar ¨ Deborah, Barak ¨ Gideon ¨ TOla ¨ Jair ¨ Jephthah ¨ Ibzan ¨ Elon ¨ Abdon ¨ Samson

The era of Kings:
Following the reign of Kings Saul, David and Solomon, the nation of Israel is divided into South and North Kingdoms.
In the Northern Kingdom (capital Samaria), 20 Kings held the reign (starting with Jeroboam) during the period of 930 to722 BCE. In 721BCE Samaria falls into the hands of Assyria.
In the Southern Kingdom (capital Jerusalem), 20 Kings (starting with Rehoboam) ascended to the throne in the period between 930 and 586 BCE. In 587 BCE, Babylon captures Jerusalem.
The Babylonian exile occurs in three batches: 605, 597 and 586 BC
Jerusalem enters a 70-year rest (period of inactivity).
538BCE, the return to Jerusalem begins
516BCE, the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple is completed.

The era of Prophets:
In this period, God-appointed prophets convey God's message to Israel and Judah.

Prophets active in 9th century BCE: Israel - Elijah, Elisha
Judah - Obadiah? Joel

Prophets active in 8th Century BCE: Israel - Amos, Hosea, Jonah
:Judah - Isaiah, Micah

Prophets active in 7th century BCE: Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk

Prophets active in 6th century BCE: Jeremiah from Jerusalem
Ezekiel and Daniel from Babylon
Haggai, Habakkuk

Prophets active in 5th century: Zechariah, Malachi

Prophecy of Christ (Messiah)
The first prophecy concerning the coming of a Saviour: Genesis 3:15 - the beginning of anti-Judaism.
The second prophecy concerning the coming of a Saviour: Genesis 4:17
Prophecy of the Saviour's coming by Enoch: Judah 14-15 (Genesis 5:21-24, Hebrews 11:5-6)
Prophecy of blessings upon Israelites by Noah: Genesis 9:25-27

Leviticus 23 : God's appointed feasts
Their relation to the events of 'passion week' of Christ (and beyond).
1) Passover feast:: 14th day of 1st month (Abib or Nisan - Spring festival in March/April)
Foreshadow of God's plan of salvation, the atonement by Jesus' blood, Jesus' death on the Cross. Leviticus 23:4-5, Exodus 12:1-14, 1Cor 5:7

2) Feast of Unleavened bread: 15th-21st day of 1st Month
Preparation for holiness. Through Jesus' atoning blood, those who believe will be made righteous: communion with God in the Holy Communion.
Leviticus 23:6-8, Exodus 12:15-20, Romans 3:23-26, 1 Corinthians 5:6-8.

3) Feast of the Firstfruits: 17th day of 1st Month
Guarantee of deliverance from death for those who believe in the Lord: Resurrection of Christ.

Leviticus 23:9-14, I Cor 15:20-23

4) Feast of seven full weeks (Pentecost): 6th day of 3rd month (Sivan - May/June)
50 days after the Passover: coming of the Holy Spirit as the Father had promised.

Leviticus 23:15-21, Acts 2:1

5) Feast of the trumpet: 1st day of the 7th month (Tishri)
Jews who had for long been scattered all over the world, gather in the Holy Land; the second coming of Jesus.

Leviticus 23:23-25, Isaiah 27:12-13, Joel 2:1-3:21, Matthew 24:31, 1 Cor 15:51-52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation 11:15

6) Feast of atonement: 10th day of 7th month
The Jews accept their Messiah and are released from sin and unbelief. For them, this will be a day of mourning and grief for their sins: the finality of Jesus' atoning power for all the people of the world.

Leviticus 23:26-21, Ch16, Zecharaiah 12:10-14,13:1

7) Feast of Tabernacles: 15th-22nd of 7th month (September/October Autumn festival)
This is a joyous festival celebrating the completion of the harvest, rejoicing in the completed work of God's salvation.
Completion of the second coming: the establishment of God's Kingdom under the rule of Jesus on the earth.

Leviticus 23:33-34, Deuteronomy 16:15, Nehemiah 8:13-17, Ezra3:4, Zecheriah 14:16-19

Prophetic meaning
1)-4): Spring festivals that have already been fulfilled
The period between 4) and 5) is a long summer period in wait for harvest
5)-6): Autumn festivals that are yet to happen.

The whole Bible is a prophetic book
The Hebrew bible was regarded by Jesus himself as having supreme authority, and was written under the guidance of God's Spirit. It is accurate and a book that is reliable above all other literature.
Just as Jesus clearly stated; ' Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, nor the least stroke of the pen, will by any means disppear from the Law until everything is accomplished.' (Matthew 5:17-18), what is described in the Scriptires as God's words 'logos' and God's spoken words 'rhema' will surely be fulfilled.
See how Elizabeth expressed her heartfelt blessings and joy for Mary who believed in God's words telling of her virgin birth in these spirit-filled words: 'Blessed is she who has believed what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.' (Luke 1:45)
The 24th book of the Hebrew bible (there are 39 in total) lists the many prophecies that were fulfilled by Jesus Christ, as seen in his birth, ministry, atoning death on the cross, resurrection, ascension, work of the Holy Spirit, Work of the dicsiples that continues even to today.
I will now list some examples of how accurate God's prophecies are, by comparing the prophetic utterings in the Old Testament, with specific incidents recorded in the book of Luke.

Over 300 prophecies relating to Jesus in the Bible have already been fulfilled to 100% accuracy. According to statistical calculation, the probablity of over 300 prophecies being fulfilled in the short 36 years of a single lifetime is '1 in 830000000'! The remarkable accuracy of the Bible highlights the fact that it is a Holy Spirit-inspired book that far exceeds human knowledge.

@